Keeping The Checks Coming Law Change Allows Payments To Continue During Hospitalization

August 10, 1988

Supplemental Security Income recipients may be able to continue receiving full SSI payments while they are institutionalized for short-term medical treatment.

A change in the Social Security Act effective July 1 provides for the continuation of SSI checks for up to three months for individuals entering a public institution or Medicaid facility, such as a hospital or a nursing home.

Previously, SSI payments were stopped or reduced to $25 a month -- $30 effective July 1 -- for the first full month of care in a public facility or Medicaid institution.

The purpose of this provision is to help SSI recipients maintain their home while they are institutionalized for Medicaid treatment that is not expected to exceed 90 days. Checks would continue at the full rate during the period of treatment.

In order to qualify for this provision, an individual, his representative payee or the facility must notify the Social Security Administration of the institutionalization by the 10th of the month following the month of admission.

A physician also must certify that the admission for medical treatment is expected to last 90 days or less, and the individual must demonstrate that he needs to pay some or all of the expenses of maintaining a home until his expected date of discharge. All three conditions must be met for the provision to apply.

QUESTION: My husband receives Social Security benefits on his work record and I also receive benefits on his record. If we both work part time, would our combined earnings have to be limited to the allowed annual amount?

-- C.R., MERRITT ISLAND

ANSWER: Even though you both receive benefits on the same work record, individual earnings are used in applying the retirement earnings test.

If your husband's earnings exceed the allowable amount, then both of your benefits could be affected. If your earnings exceed the allowed amount, then only your benefits would be affected.

Q: When I recently went to the doctor, his nurse told me that because I have Medicare, the doctor accepts assignment. What is the assignment method of payment?

-- D.D., ZELLWOOD

A: If you elect assignment of payments, Medicare directly pays your doctor or other health-care provider. That may save you time and money because when the assignment method is used, the doctor or health-care provider agrees that the total charge for services will be the charge approved by Medicare.

Medicare pays 80 percent of that charge after subtracting any part of the $75 deductible that you have not met.

Q: My husband and I have both worked more than 40 years under Social Security. When I retire, will I be able to collect benefits as both a worker and as his wife?

-- A.T., OCOEE

A: No. You can only receive an amount equal to the higher benefit of the two. Social Security will determine your correct rate.

Q: I've been working under Social Security for more than 35 years. Is there a point where I'll be completely paid up and won't have to pay any more Social Security tax?

-- W.S., FORT MYERS

A: No. As long as you work at a job covered by Social Security, you must pay Social Security taxes on your earnings, even though you're fully insured. This year the maximum earnings subject to Social Security taxes is $45,000.

If your earnings will exceed that amount, then you would only pay Social Security taxes up to that amount.